Halifax care home keeps Covid-free thanks to nurse call technology

A nursing home in Halifax has credited its innovative nurse call technology for keeping it Covid-free since the virus first hit the UK.

Park View Care Home’s installed Tunstall Carecom’s wireless care assist system was set up in 2019 and enabled the care home to deliver its care in exclusive bubbles to reduce the risk of cross infection.

Unlike traditional systems, Tunstall Carecom doesn’t rely on fixed call points and allows care to become person-centred, rather than room-centred. Each resident has their own sensors based on their individual needs, and the sensors can be activated from anywhere within the home, making care more flexible, responsive and efficient.

It has also helped manage risks, thanks to its less restrictive approach that means residents’ movements don’t have to be limited for safety.

Talking about the new system, Jason Sharpe, operations manager at Park View, said: “It has effectively enabled us to have our own Track and Trace systems, and having sensors in the residents’ rooms meant we knew they were safe in between our checks.”

During the pandemic, the technology was used so effectively that 10 staff members were able to move into the home full time to provide safe round-the-clock monitoring of residents.

Split into three teams, the technology enabled them to be allocated care for specific residents and then receive automatic notifications if assistance was required.

Sharpe continued: “By investing in cutting-edge health tech, we were able to keep things as normal as possible for residents, even during the height of the lockdown when they couldn’t see their families… we can give our residents even higher levels of care, and provide their families with a greater level of reassurance. We’ve been able to boost morale and staff are feeling happier in their jobs.”